The subject of this thread is about headroom, calibration of the studio monitoring, reference levels, the utilization of the available data width on the digital recording medium, and how to achieve the optimal dynamics for the particular medium. In this sense there preexist several standards in recording technology, e.g maximum level for films, total dynamic ranges for the different media etc..

This thread is not about composing, and not about how the composer handles dynamics and loudness relations between instruments, or groups of instruments within his composition.

The recording of a real orchestra is another art form. However, I think it is possible to transfer parameters from the reality of recording a real orchestra into the virtual reality of computer generated orchestra music, for example room and distance parameters, but then everything has to be programmed.

"how to achieve the optimal dynamics for the particular medium - Angelo Clematide

How can you do this in samples without addressing elements that arise in composition, orchestration and performance?  Try it.  You will discover it is impossible.

Also, your discussion begins with adjustments of levels of  different instruments, and that is very definitely of musical, compositional signifcance.

Besides, it is totally unnecessary to use this system for studio equipment calibration. If one owns or works with equipment, one should have already learned long ago how to use it properly unless one is an idiot.  Though your system may be of use to you, and I am not trying to deny it's validity for your purposes if you want to work that way.  But this thread implies that this is the only way anyone professional should work, and that is flatly wrong.

@Another User said:

Besides, it is totally unnecessary to use this system for studio equipment calibration. If one owns or works with equipment, one should have already learned long ago how to use it properly unless one is an idiot.  Though your system may be of use to you, and I am not trying to deny it's validity for your purposes if you want to work that way.  But this thread implies that this is the only way anyone professional should work, and that is flatly wrong.

Every recording studio is calibrated, as well every certified cinema theater is also calibrated. When the engineer and mixer would work in a non-calibrated environment, he would not know how loud the music is.

"A composer knows in advance where the loudest part of his composition is, and from there the available headroom, respectively the maximum loudness is set."

This shows a complete ignorance of performing and recording MIDI music.  The loudest or softest notated or sequenced scoring might be far lower or higher in overall level depending on which samples are used and how they are processed.

"Level is recording technique terminology. For musical loudness we use the usual Italian terminology such a ppp or fff"

You still do not understand. A written ppp may sound higher in level than an fff, depending on how the sample is recorded and mixed.  It is naive to assume writing a pp will have the slightest significance - except with timbral considerations - in the final mix. And yet recording and mixing have a huge influence on the musical expression.

Finally - if this is not about composing and orchestration then why did you put it on the composing and orchestration forum?

@William said:

"A composer knows in advance where the loudest part of his composition is, and from there the available headroom, respectively the maximum loudness is set."

This shows a complete ignorance of performing and recording MIDI music.  The loudest or softest notated or sequenced scoring might be far lower or higher in overall level depending on which samples are used and how they are processed.

"Level is recording technique terminology. For musical loudness we use the usual Italian terminology such a ppp or fff"

You still do not understand. A written ppp may sound higher in level than an fff, depending on how the sample is recorded and mixed.  It is naive to assume writing a pp will have the slightest significance - except with timbral considerations - in the final mix. And yet recording and mixing have a huge influence on the musical expression.

The dynamic range MIDI Velocity can trigger is 47 dB. We all have the same dynamic range available. How you use this range in composition is completly up to you.

That is completely false.

Another example of misinformation on this thread.

I can use MIDI to destroy a system.  I can trigger, via continous controlllers as well as velocity, a dynamic range that spans as far as any of the instruments I am using are capable of playing.  This includes everything from no signal at all to the highest signal my system is set to - including beyond clipping and into the destruct range.

You on the other hand, are capable of only a paltry few decibels. I don't know what you're smoking but it is giving you delusions that you should not be posting in public. Or perhaps you need to continue with those meds you offered me on another thread.   Your brain is showing some serious signs of clipping.

@Angelo Clematide said:

[...] The dynamic range MIDI Velocity can trigger is 47 dB. [...]

@Angelo Clematide said:

[...] The dynamic range MIDI Velocity can trigger is 47 dB. [...]

What makes you tink so? If I want, I can program the synthesizer or sample-player of my choice to play any chosen volume at any MIDI-velocity sent to it.

That is the MIDI Standard.

1. This is a VSL vl-14 patch with velocity 1-127 playing the the single note A3 (220Hz). Total amplitude (dynamic range) = 35 dB:

2. This is a 0dB sine wave with velocity 1-127 playing the single note A3 (220Hz). Total amplitude (dynamic range) = 47 dB:

@Angelo Clematide said:

[...] That is the MIDI Standard.

Sorry for the outburst Angelo. We never can tell when those meds are going to wear off, can we?

Anyway, you may be right on MIDI velocity.  I did a test and the maximum change in level was close to that number. 

However, it is wrong concerning the overall dynamic range controllable purely through MIDI. Velocity is only one of the parameters, and with CC 7  alone I just measured a range from -6 to -75 db. 

@William said:

Sorry for the outburst Angelo. We never can tell when those meds are going to wear off, can we?

I have no problem with your extraordinary temperament, I actually like you temper, but don't tell anyone !!!

.

@William said:

Anyway, you may be right on MIDI velocity.  I did a test and the maximum change in level was close to that number. 

However, it is wrong concerning the overall dynamic range controllable purely through MIDI. Velocity is only one of the parameters, and with CC 7  alone I just measured a range from -6 to -75 db. 

No, you where right, velocity can triggers sample amplitudes from:

127 = 0 dBFS

1 = infinte (no amplitude)

when the sensitivity is at 100%. The sensitivity of the Kontakt patches are only on 70.6%

... and the formula for the academics:

Link: The MIDI Association paper:

http://www.midi.org/techspecs/dls/dsl1v11b.pdf

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@Angelo Clematide said:

IV. Dynamic Indications - Velocity to dBFS

This PDF visualizes the MIDI velocity and the produced decibel of the four layer string patch VI-14_mV_sus_p-ff. The produced maximum peak is -7.5 dB in the ff layer, and the minimum is -36.7 dB with the pp layer.

download link:
http://vsl.co.at/upload/users/57/Dynamic_Indications_Velocity_to_dBFS.pdf


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Hello Angelo,

is this PDF's still available somewhere?

Thanks in advance,

Thomas